History of the Grouse Inn
The Grouse Inn is over 170 years old, and possibly much older, as it lies on an ancient 'pack-horse' route. Local farmers would supplement their income by brewing ale from some of their own produce and sell it to the passing travellers. The popularity of the Grouse dramatically increased, when the Toller Lane, Haworth and Blue Bell Turnpike Trust, built at the end of the 18th century to improve the road connecting Bradford and Colne. This Turnpike road is the road that runs along the front of the Grouse Inn & it must have benefited from the increased traffic. It was probable that at this time the farmer who brewed ale to supplement his income, became a publican who farmed to supplement his income.
It was from these ancient roots that the current Grouse Inn developed.
The Grouse Inn is clearly marked on this old map from 1852, and so was clearly an established tavern at that time:
The 1841 census shows Samuel Heaton (and his wife Hannah) employed as Publican in Harehill, and as far as we know he is the earliest known landlord of the Grouse Inn. Samuel was born in Laverock Hall, Oldfield, Keighley in March 1789, one of several children born to Joseph Heaton and his wife Martha (nee Tatham). The 'Heaton' family has strong local links with the Harehills area, and many of Samuel's close neighbours in 1841 were his brothers, and other relations.
Another early and long-serving landlord was Inn Keeper and Farmer Joseph Butterfield, who was born at ‘Two Laws’, Harehills in 1817. Joseph took over from Samuel Heaton between the 1841 & 1851 censuses. Although the 1851 census does not name the Grouse Inn, Joseph is seen as an unmarried 34 year old Inn Keeper living at Harehills.
In August 1854 Joseph Butterfield a married local girl 9 years younger than himself: Sarah Bancroft, from Cragg Bottom, Keighley, and in February 1861 they had their only child: a daughter named Sarah Ann Butterfield.
The later censuses from 1871 onwards all have the inn itself is clearly named ‘The Grouse Inn’.
Landlord Joseph Butterfield died shortly after in November 1881 aged 64, after being the Inn Keeper at the Grouse Inn for over 30 years.
The 1891 census finds Thomas Midgley from Keighley owning the Grouse Inn, along with his wife Kate from Staffordshire, and 1 month old daughter Mary:
The 1901 census sees Samuel Wallbank, born 1852 in Oakworth as the Innkeeper of the Grouse Inn, with his wife Mary Ann, who was 2 years younger and came from Gisburn:
Following Samuel Wallbank the Grouse Inn passed to Mr Metcalfe Bailey. Metcalfe Bailey was a prominent local Licensee, and past-president of Keighley Licensed Victuallers Association. (Hopefully unrelatedly he was also the proprietor of an undertaking business!) Metcalfe Bailey owned the Grouse Inn until 1913, when he took over the White Horse Inn in Keighley. Metcalfe died in 1952 aged 76, and is interred at Oakworth Cemetery.
The Grouse Inn was bought by Timothy Taylor's Brewery, and has been a tied house since.
James Booth was landlord until 1983, when he was replaced by Joseph Procter. Joseph was then the landlord of the establishment from 1983 until 1999. The Grouse Inn was bought by Mark Narey in 2000 and following a major refurbishment the Inn re-opened in February 2000. In 2003 Mark formed a business partnership with chef Karl Rowlett, and together they formed the company, ‘Traditional Catering Ltd’, which now holds the tenancy.
The Grouse Inn was closed for 5 months at the start of 2005 for a massive new extension, with a complete refit & refurbishment.